Hindus celebrate Holi in burst of color

Hindus are celebrating the festival of Holi by painting each other in bright colors, distributing sweets and squirting water at one another. The holiday, celebrated mainly in India and Nepal, marks the beginning of spring and the triumph of good over evil. Bonfires were burned overnight, and on Monday, Hindus threw colored, dry powder and water in celebration. Here are some images from the festival.

Indian Hindu devotees covered in color dances as they arrive at the Nandagram Temple famous for Lord Krishna during the Lathmar Holy festival in Nandgaon 120 kilometers (75 miles) from New Delhi, India, Monday, March 10, 2014. According to a tradition which has its roots in Hindu mythology, men from nearby Barsana village are soaked in colored water by men and beaten with sticks by women from Nandgaonm as they arrive at Nandgaon, believed to be Lord Krishna's village. less

Indian Hindu devotees covered in color dances as they arrive at the Nandagram Temple famous for Lord Krishna during the Lathmar Holy festival in Nandgaon 120 kilometers (75 miles) from New Delhi, India, Monday, ... more

Photo: Altaf Qadri, AP

Indian Hindu devotees covered in color dances as they arrive at the... Photo-6033885.82120 - Houston Chronicle

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Indian women smear colors on their faces as they celebrate "Holi," a festival of colors, in Allahabad, India, Sunday, March 16, 2014. The festival heralds the arrival of spring.

Indian women smear colors on their faces as they celebrate "Holi," a festival of colors, in Allahabad, India, Sunday, March 16, 2014. The festival heralds the arrival of spring.

Photo: Rajesh Kumar Singh, AP

Indian women smear colors on their faces as they celebrate... Photo-6033886.82120 - Houston Chronicle

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An Indian man has his face smeared with colors to celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, in Allahabad, India, Sunday, March 16, 2014. The festival heralds the arrival of spring.

An Indian man has his face smeared with colors to celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, in Allahabad, India, Sunday, March 16, 2014. The festival heralds the arrival of spring.

Photo: Rajesh Kumar Singh, AP

An Indian man has his face smeared with colors to celebrate Holi,... Photo-6033887.82120 - Houston Chronicle

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A girl reacts as women smear color on her face to celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, in Allahabad, , India, Sunday, March 16, 2014. The festival heralds the arrival of spring.

A girl reacts as women smear color on her face to celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, in Allahabad, , India, Sunday, March 16, 2014. The festival heralds the arrival of spring.

Indian women smear colors on their faces as they celebrate "Holi," a festival of colors, in Allahabad, India, Sunday, March 16, 2014. The festival heralds the arrival of spring.

Indian women smear colors on their faces as they celebrate "Holi," a festival of colors, in Allahabad, India, Sunday, March 16, 2014. The festival heralds the arrival of spring.

Photo: Rajesh Kumar Singh, AP

Indian women smear colors on their faces as they celebrate... Photo-6033889.82120 - Houston Chronicle

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Indian women from Barsana village wait with a wooden sticks at the door step of their house for the arrival of villagers from Nandgaon, during the Lathmar Holy festival the legendary hometown of Radha, consort of Hindu God Krishna, in Barsana, 115 kilometers (71 miles) from New Delhi, India,Sunday, March 9, 2014. During Lathmar Holi the women of Barsana beat the men from Nandgaon, the hometown of Krishna, with wooden sticks in response to their teasing as they depart the town. less

Indian women from Barsana village wait with a wooden sticks at the door step of their house for the arrival of villagers from Nandgaon, during the Lathmar Holy festival the legendary hometown of Radha, consort ... more

Photo: Altaf Qadri, AP

Indian women from Barsana village wait with a wooden sticks at the... Photo-6033890.82120 - Houston Chronicle

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Hindu men from the village of Nangaon covered with colored powder sit on the floor during prayers at the Ladali or Radha temple before the procession for the Lathmar Holy festival, the legendary hometown of Radha, consort of Hindu God Krishna, in Barsana 115 kilometers ( 71 miles) from New Delhi, India, Sunday, March 9, 2014. During Lathmar Holi the women of Barsana beat the men from Nandgaon, the hometown of Krishna, with wooden sticks in response to their teasing as they depart the town. less

Hindu men from the village of Nangaon covered with colored powder sit on the floor during prayers at the Ladali or Radha temple before the procession for the Lathmar Holy festival, the legendary hometown of ... more

Photo: Altaf Qadri, AP

Hindu men from the village of Nangaon covered with colored powder... Photo-6033891.82120 - Houston Chronicle

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Hindu men from the village of Nangaon throw colored powder on others as they play holi at the Ladali or Radha temple before the procession for the Lathmar Holi festival, the legendary hometown of Radha, consort of Hindu God Krishna, in Barsana 115 kilometers ( 71 miles) from New Delhi, India, Sunday, March 9, 2014. During Lathmar Holi the women of Barsana beat the men from Nandgaon, the hometown of Krishna, with wooden sticks in response to their teasing as they depart the town. less

Hindu men from the village of Nangaon throw colored powder on others as they play holi at the Ladali or Radha temple before the procession for the Lathmar Holi festival, the legendary hometown of Radha, consort ... more

Photo: Altaf Qadri, AP

Hindu men from the village of Nangaon throw colored powder on... Photo-6033892.82120 - Houston Chronicle

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Taboola Gallery Frame Item-85307.82120 - Houston Chronicle

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An Indian girl is smeared her face with color powder as she celebrates the Holi festival in Ahmadabad, India, Friday, March 14, 2014. Holi, the Hindu festival of colors that also marks the advent of spring, is being celebrated across the country Monday. less

An Indian girl is smeared her face with color powder as she celebrates the Holi festival in Ahmadabad, India, Friday, March 14, 2014. Holi, the Hindu festival of colors that also marks the advent of spring, is ... more

Photo: Ajit Solanki, AP

An Indian girl is smeared her face with color powder as she... Photo-6033893.82120 - Houston Chronicle

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Hindu men from the village of Nangaon throw colored powder at each other as they play holi at the Ladali or Radha temple before the procession for the Lathmar Holi festival, the legendary hometown of Radha, consort of Hindu God Krishna, in Barsana 115 kilometers ( 71 miles) from New Delhi, India , in New Delhi, India, Sunday, March 9, 2014. During Lathmar Holi the women of Barsana beat the men from Nandgaon, the hometown of Krishna, with wooden sticks in response to their teasing as they depart the town. less

Hindu men from the village of Nangaon throw colored powder at each other as they play holi at the Ladali or Radha temple before the procession for the Lathmar Holi festival, the legendary hometown of Radha, ... more

Photo: Altaf Qadri, AP

Hindu men from the village of Nangaon throw colored powder at each... Photo-6033894.82120 - Houston Chronicle

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A Hindu man from the village of Nangaon teases men from Barsana as they play holi at the Ladali or Radha temple before the procession for the Lathmar Holi festival, the legendary hometown of Radha, consort of Hindu God Krishna, in Barsana 115 kilometers ( 71 miles) from New Delhi, India, Sunday, March 9, 2014. During Lathmar Holi the women of Barsana beat the men from Nandgaon, the hometown of Krishna, with wooden sticks in response to their teasing as they depart the town. less

A Hindu man from the village of Nangaon teases men from Barsana as they play holi at the Ladali or Radha temple before the procession for the Lathmar Holi festival, the legendary hometown of Radha, consort of ... more

Photo: Altaf Qadri, AP

A Hindu man from the village of Nangaon teases men from Barsana as... Photo-6033895.82120 - Houston Chronicle

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Hindu men from the village of Nangaon are covered in colored powder as they play holi at the Ladali or Radha temple before the procession for the Lathmar Holi festival, the legendary hometown of Radha, consort of Hindu God Krishna, in Barsana 115 kilometers ( 71 miles) from New Delhi, India , in New Delhi, India, Sunday, March 9, 2014. During Lathmar Holi the women of Barsana beat the men from Nandgaon, the hometown of Krishna, with wooden sticks in response to their teasing as they depart the town. less

Hindu men from the village of Nangaon are covered in colored powder as they play holi at the Ladali or Radha temple before the procession for the Lathmar Holi festival, the legendary hometown of Radha, consort ... more

Photo: Altaf Qadri, AP

Hindu men from the village of Nangaon are covered in colored powder... Photo-6033896.82120 - Houston Chronicle

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Taboola Gallery Frame Item-85307.82120 - Houston Chronicle

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Indian Hindu widows play with colored powder as a part of Holi celebrations at the Pagal Baba Ashram in Vrindavan, India, Saturday, March 15, 2014. The widows, many of whom at times have lived desperate lives in the streets of the temple town, celebrated the festival at the ashram. After their husband's deaths the women have been banished by their families to the town where devotees believe Lord Krishna was born, for supposedly bringing bad luck. less

Indian Hindu widows play with colored powder as a part of Holi celebrations at the Pagal Baba Ashram in Vrindavan, India, Saturday, March 15, 2014. The widows, many of whom at times have lived desperate lives ... more

Photo: Rajesh Kumar Singh, AP

Indian Hindu widows play with colored powder as a part of Holi... Photo-6033897.82120 - Houston Chronicle

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Indian Hindu widows play with colored water for the first time as part of Holi celebrations organized by a non-governmental organization Sulabh at the Meera Sahbhagini Ashram in Vrindavan, India, Friday, March 14, 2014. The widows, many of whom at times have lived desperate lives in the streets of the temple town, celebrated the festival at the century old ashram. After their husband's deaths the women have been banished by their families, for supposedly bringing bad luck, to the town where devotees believe Lord Krishna was born. less

Indian Hindu widows play with colored water for the first time as part of Holi celebrations organized by a non-governmental organization Sulabh at the Meera Sahbhagini Ashram in Vrindavan, India, Friday, March ... more

Photo: Manish Swarup, AP

Indian Hindu widows play with colored water for the first time as... Photo-6033898.82120 - Houston Chronicle

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Indian Hindu widows play colored water for the first time as a part of Holi celebrations organized by the NGO Sulabh at the Meera Sahbhagini Ashram in Vrindavan, India, Friday, March 14, 2014. The widows, many of whom at times have lived desperate lives in the streets of the temple town, celebrated the festival at the century old ashram. After their husband's deaths the women have been banished by their families to the town where devotees believe Lord Krishna was born, for supposedly bringing bad luck. less

Indian Hindu widows play colored water for the first time as a part of Holi celebrations organized by the NGO Sulabh at the Meera Sahbhagini Ashram in Vrindavan, India, Friday, March 14, 2014. The widows, many ... more

Photo: Manish Swarup, AP

Indian Hindu widows play colored water for the first time as a part... Photo-6033899.82120 - Houston Chronicle

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Indian children react to camera as they play with colored powder ahead of the Holi festival in Ahmadabad, India, Saturday, March 15, 2014. Holi, the Hindu festival of colors that also marks the advent of spring, is being celebrated across the country Monday. less

Indian children react to camera as they play with colored powder ahead of the Holi festival in Ahmadabad, India, Saturday, March 15, 2014. Holi, the Hindu festival of colors that also marks the advent of ... more

Photo: Ajit Solanki, AP

Indian children react to camera as they play with colored powder... Photo-6033900.82120 - Houston Chronicle

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Taboola Gallery Frame Item-85307.82120 - Houston Chronicle

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An Indian boy drags another on the floor of an apartment as they play with colors during the Holi festival in Chennai, India, Sunday, March 16, 2014. The festival also marks the advent of spring.

An Indian boy drags another on the floor of an apartment as they play with colors during the Holi festival in Chennai, India, Sunday, March 16, 2014. The festival also marks the advent of spring.

Photo: Arun Sankar K, AP

An Indian boy drags another on the floor of an apartment as they... Photo-6033901.82120 - Houston Chronicle